The secret life of handmade art dolls

May 14, 2008

Valley of the Doll Heads

Pardon the cheap pop-cultural wink, but after a year of writing a blog primarily about dolls, I couldn't resist! And I tried to remain true to reference by eschewing the neutral space of the lightbox for a valley-esque environment for my most recent work-in-progress. Here they are in my backyard, lurking among the shoots of what will soon be one of my favourite flowers, Day Lilies:

I confess, I felt rather silly arranging doll heads in the flower beds and could only imagine what the neighbours would think about the crazy new lady playing with tiny body parts.

I've been working with paperclay (an air-dry clay) for the past few days and I love love love it. I can achieve to much more detail and control than with polymer clay, but it it very time consuming as must be built up in layers, left to dry, and then sanded between layers. Polymer clay can be sculpted in one shot, then baked. Sigh. Polymer is instant gratification but paperclay is a love affair.

I think this one is my favourite...she looks pensive, a bit tortured even (but can one really be only a bit tortured?) I'm almost finished this much cheerier little dear, but am waiting for a shipment of hair before she can be completed. (I was at a dinner party once and casually mentioned going to the post office to pick up eyes, then had a lot of explaining to do.)

I altered my cloth doll pattern to give them longer legs, because I thought they were looking a little stumpy. I also tried a bit of silk ribbon embroidery on her skirt:

I've recently discovered the black & white setting on my camera (oh, the torment of being a luddite!) so I've been experimenting with trying to take artsy fartsy photos. This is a beautiful statue of Copernicus outside of the Montreal planetarium that I happened upon one day:

I love how the elements have stained his face...he looks more than a bit tortured...

And here is me trying to be sneaky and get a picture of this guy's excellent mohawk (in the right-hand bottom corner) by pretending to take a picture of the fountain. He caught on to me pretty quickly but was very friendly, waved, then did a little jig...

I love that you've been posting so much more lately! And I love all the photographs - especially the cool old buildings there. That was one of my favorite things when we lived in Pittsburgh years ago - all the old architecture.

There is no way I would even know how to begin to use either of the products you described. I'm a clay-a-phobe. Definately a torturous affair for me. Now you, on the other hand are a master. Great faces and I rather like the gal sans hair!
D.

they already have such personality! i would love to see a book made up of your process this way, such intriguing stuff.

i am smitten by cosette in your shop, by the way, and if i wasnt still struggling with this house move, i would snap her up totally. in fact, at some point i would love to make a commission, if you still do them?

i adore the cloth doll very much, too. another heartfelt favourite!

oh, and i was looking for the bbc theme to pd james today. i love that haunting theme tune. by a man called richard harvey, but, as i had already guessed, not available!
pah!